More than 400 attended the gala held at Kelowna Flightcraft’s Hangar 8 in early September.

“I am proud to see my hangar transformed for such a successful fundraising even; it makes me proud to be part of the Kelowna community," says Barry Lapointe, Chairman and CEO of Kelowna Flightcraft.

Four of KGH’s highly skilled surgeons also took the stage to truly illustrate the purpose of the event. Funds raised are supporting the Foundation’s $12-million Be a Lifesaver Capital Campaign.

The Interior Heart & Surgical Centre will open in the Fall of 2015 and be home to 12 surgical specialties, including open heart surgery. It will serve over 740,000 people from Williams Lake to Osoyoos, Merritt to Cranbrook, and all the communities in between.

“What an incredible evening!” says Debbie and Leo Robert, the evening’s Honourary Chairs. “An event that surpassed any gala we have ever attended. The generosity and support was phenomenal. Together, we made a difference - what an amazing community. Thanks to everyone involved in this spectacular event.”

The Heart & Surgical Centre will save patient lives across Interior Health by providing timely surgeries and eliminate the need to travel to the Lower Mainland for care. The Centre will give patients better access to care, reduce the time they spend in hospital, get them back to their daily lives faster and increase the time they spend with loved ones.

Many donors, sponsors and volunteers came together to create such an important evening.

“This event was such a heartwarming demonstration of the power of the community in Kelowna”, says Doug Rankmore, CEO of the KGH Foundation. “The Centre will make a tremendous difference in the lives of our friends and families. Those gathered that evening showed how much they care for their community through their generosity – bringing the Interior Heart & Surgical Centre that much closer to reality.”

About The Author

Okanagan Life captures the essence of life in the Okanagan Valley with informative and entertaining features on issues that matter to people who live or vacation in this great region, plus stories on Okanagan destinations, personalities, wine, food, history, outdoor recreation and more. We're now in our 30th year of publishing. Subscribe

Current Issue

Digital Edition - Yearly Subscription

Each month, we're giving away 30 free annual subscriptions to celebrate our 30th year in publishing!
With a digital subscription, you can enjoy Okanagan Life on your tablet.